Abstract:
PFOA is a commonly used substance in the creation of plastics. Its most commonly used in the making of flame retardant materials such as the clothing worn by firefighters to protect them from the extreme heats of the flames. PFOA is also commonly used in the making of Teflon, and weather resistant materials that we often use in the world of today.
However good the product is, there are implications on the peoples health, on the environment, and economical impact, and a political impact as well. PFOA virtually does not biodegrade, so it stays in the environment for a very long time, and so recently it has been found that there are low levels of PFOA in our bloodstreams. There hasn’t been any real discoveries as to any real health implications, but it has been rumored that you would have a higher chance of contracting cancer because of it. In the environment, the PFOA does not biodegrade, which means that unless it is forced to biodegrade, or is reused, it will just sit there for and exceedingly long time and may cause problems to the natural flow of the environment. As far as the economical and political sides of this chemical go, it is inexpensive to make, but there are no political issues concerning the chemical yet.
I believe that this chemical does more good than bad, so there shouldn’t be anything done until we have found a substance that will actually biodegrade in the environment, allowing us to not have to worry about it when we are finished using it.
Background:
Perflourooctanoic Acid, or also known as PFOA, and by some others as C8 is very common in today’s modern world. This man-made substance is often found in non-stick cooking pieces, breathable all weather clothing, and other things that there are made with fluoropolymers. However, PFOA is not what is inside the fluoropolymers, but what is used to make them, the PFOA is an acid used to make them, and therefore these products may contain some traces of this chemical. PFOA is also used in the making of fluoroelastomers, used in making hoses, O-rings, and gaskets. A couple of benefits of using PFOA to create the fluoroelastomers and fluoropolymers is that it is put into firefighters clothing for fire-retardant capabilities, it reduces the risk of fires in office buildings by insulating wires and pipes. These products also protect astronauts from micrometeoroids and extreme temperatures in space. It also reduces car pollution, creating better cookware, and gives structures better weather resistance. These are just a few of the positive uses for the products that PFOA helps to make.
Sythesis/ Production:
No real production process for PFOA was found, only the information that it is extracted from the process to make the materials, and is then left over to begin the process of making the material again. There are also specific factories dedicated to the making of PFOA, although the factories being used by the major manufacturing companies are being shut down due to some arising concerns pertaining to the possible risks to the environment and the public health.
"Eighty grams of triethyl orthoformate were fluorinated in a 4-liter stirred tank reactor containing 1.5 liters (CF.sub.2 Cl).sub.2 CFOCF.sub.2 OCF(CF.sub.2 Cl).sub.2 and 400 g sodium fluoride powder. The triethyl orthoformate, diluted with 200 ml (CF.sub.2 C).sub.2 CFOCF.sub.2 OCF(CF.sub.2 Cl).sub.2 was pumped into the reactor over an 18 hour period. Fluorination of the fluid at 10.degree. C. with 30% fluorine gave a 55% yield of a product having a boiling point of 92.5.degree. C. The product was obtained in greater than 99% purity following an atmosphic distillation"
Chemical structure:
external image
Human Health Implications:
Possible dangers to humans from PFA’s would be liver damage, the thyroid hormones could be affected, birth defects, and possibly cancer. When the bodies receive these PFA’s it may be from dioxins that escape from factories to settle in the soil or in the water, and are then passed into the food chain. They then build up in animal fat and are then passed on to people through meat and dairy.
Environmental Implications:
As far as environmental problems go, there have been no real issues seen except that though it is biodegradable, does not fully breakdown, but gets broken down enough that its distinctive qualities are distributed to the surrounding area at a molecular level. PFOA, to all intents and purposes, does biodegrade not very quickly, which is why it is used to create substances such as Teflon. However, the method of disposing this chemical is that it is either evaporated or dumped into the environment to supposedly break down due after it has been used to create a product..
Economic/Political Impact:
If PFOA were banned then most major manufacturing companies would be scrambling to find a replacement to put in their plastics and also flame-retardent materials.
To find and create an alternative could be very expensive depending on how long it would take to find a new material, and how much would be needed to test it, along with the costs of manufacturing it afterwards.
PFOA is a common export to areas that have large companies that create plastics. (most seen place would be the United States, but it is possible that there are larger places that export it.
A ban would affect me as an average American since one of the biggest issues would be that firefighters could be in a great deal more danger since they would not be using PFOA in the production of their protective gear when initiating a fire rescue. Also, the flame retardants so common in plastics and home appliances would also require a new material to help in the production process.
Summary/Conclusion:
In terms of costs and benefits, the benefits far outweigh the possibilities of any disease, as it the main piece in the production of flame resistant materials that keep people in hazardous conditions such as fire fighters or rescue workers. However, since there is a possibility that the materials may give cancer, it would be extremely advisable to try and find a replacement for it so as to keep any infections of cancer from happening.
PFOA is a commonly used substance in the creation of plastics. Its most commonly used in the making of flame retardant materials such as the clothing worn by firefighters to protect them from the extreme heats of the flames. PFOA is also commonly used in the making of Teflon, and weather resistant materials that we often use in the world of today.
However good the product is, there are implications on the peoples health, on the environment, and economical impact, and a political impact as well. PFOA virtually does not biodegrade, so it stays in the environment for a very long time, and so recently it has been found that there are low levels of PFOA in our bloodstreams. There hasn’t been any real discoveries as to any real health implications, but it has been rumored that you would have a higher chance of contracting cancer because of it. In the environment, the PFOA does not biodegrade, which means that unless it is forced to biodegrade, or is reused, it will just sit there for and exceedingly long time and may cause problems to the natural flow of the environment. As far as the economical and political sides of this chemical go, it is inexpensive to make, but there are no political issues concerning the chemical yet.
I believe that this chemical does more good than bad, so there shouldn’t be anything done until we have found a substance that will actually biodegrade in the environment, allowing us to not have to worry about it when we are finished using it.
Background:
Perflourooctanoic Acid, or also known as PFOA, and by some others as C8 is very common in today’s modern world. This man-made substance is often found in non-stick cooking pieces, breathable all weather clothing, and other things that there are made with fluoropolymers. However, PFOA is not what is inside the fluoropolymers, but what is used to make them, the PFOA is an acid used to make them, and therefore these products may contain some traces of this chemical. PFOA is also used in the making of fluoroelastomers, used in making hoses, O-rings, and gaskets. A couple of benefits of using PFOA to create the fluoroelastomers and fluoropolymers is that it is put into firefighters clothing for fire-retardant capabilities, it reduces the risk of fires in office buildings by insulating wires and pipes. These products also protect astronauts from micrometeoroids and extreme temperatures in space. It also reduces car pollution, creating better cookware, and gives structures better weather resistance. These are just a few of the positive uses for the products that PFOA helps to make.
Sythesis/ Production:
No real production process for PFOA was found, only the information that it is extracted from the process to make the materials, and is then left over to begin the process of making the material again. There are also specific factories dedicated to the making of PFOA, although the factories being used by the major manufacturing companies are being shut down due to some arising concerns pertaining to the possible risks to the environment and the public health.
Production process found on http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l
=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22perfluorooctanoic+acid+production%22&OS=%22perfluorooctanoic+acid+production%22&RS=
%22perfluorooctanoic+acid+production%22 ,example 68.
"Eighty grams of triethyl orthoformate were fluorinated in a 4-liter stirred tank reactor containing 1.5 liters (CF.sub.2 Cl).sub.2 CFOCF.sub.2 OCF(CF.sub.2 Cl).sub.2 and 400 g sodium fluoride powder. The triethyl orthoformate, diluted with 200 ml (CF.sub.2 C).sub.2 CFOCF.sub.2 OCF(CF.sub.2 Cl).sub.2 was pumped into the reactor over an 18 hour period. Fluorination of the fluid at 10.degree. C. with 30% fluorine gave a 55% yield of a product having a boiling point of 92.5.degree. C. The product was obtained in greater than 99% purity following an atmosphic distillation"
Chemical structure:
Human Health Implications:
Possible dangers to humans from PFA’s would be liver damage, the thyroid hormones could be affected, birth defects, and possibly cancer. When the bodies receive these PFA’s it may be from dioxins that escape from factories to settle in the soil or in the water, and are then passed into the food chain. They then build up in animal fat and are then passed on to people through meat and dairy.
Environmental Implications:
As far as environmental problems go, there have been no real issues seen except that though it is biodegradable, does not fully breakdown, but gets broken down enough that its distinctive qualities are distributed to the surrounding area at a molecular level. PFOA, to all intents and purposes, does biodegrade not very quickly, which is why it is used to create substances such as Teflon. However, the method of disposing this chemical is that it is either evaporated or dumped into the environment to supposedly break down due after it has been used to create a product..
Economic/Political Impact:
If PFOA were banned then most major manufacturing companies would be scrambling to find a replacement to put in their plastics and also flame-retardent materials.
To find and create an alternative could be very expensive depending on how long it would take to find a new material, and how much would be needed to test it, along with the costs of manufacturing it afterwards.
PFOA is a common export to areas that have large companies that create plastics. (most seen place would be the United States, but it is possible that there are larger places that export it.
A ban would affect me as an average American since one of the biggest issues would be that firefighters could be in a great deal more danger since they would not be using PFOA in the production of their protective gear when initiating a fire rescue. Also, the flame retardants so common in plastics and home appliances would also require a new material to help in the production process.
Summary/Conclusion:
In terms of costs and benefits, the benefits far outweigh the possibilities of any disease, as it the main piece in the production of flame resistant materials that keep people in hazardous conditions such as fire fighters or rescue workers. However, since there is a possibility that the materials may give cancer, it would be extremely advisable to try and find a replacement for it so as to keep any infections of cancer from happening.